DHS panel to review Secret Service handling Donald Trump assassination attempt

WASHINGTON – A bipartisan panel headed by Janet Napolitano, a former secretary of Homeland Secretary, and Frances Townsend, a former presidential homeland security adviser, will review the Secret Service’s planning and response to the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, the department announced Sunday.

“This independent review will examine what happened and provide actionable recommendations to ensure they carry out their no-fail mission most effectively and to prevent something like this from ever happening again,” Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement.

The panel will conduct its review within 45 days. Mayorkas asked for recommendations as the panel's review is underway, rather than waiting until its work is complete.

The announcement came on the eve of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle testifying at the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability on Monday morning. Several members of Congress, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., have called for Cheatle to resign.

A Secret Service sniper shot and killed Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, after Crooks fired numerous shots at Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Crooks was atop a building within 150 yards of Trump's lectern, which is typically within the perimeter that the agency would secure.

The review will cover the Secret Service, its governing polices and procedures, and state and local authorities before, during, and after the rally.

The agency had enhanced Trump’s protection before he was shot in the ear and since July 16 enhanced physical and technical security for him and other protectees.

Napolitano served in the Obama administration. Townsend served in the George W. Bush administration. Other members of the panel include Mark Filip, a former federal judge; David Mitchell, a former superintendent of Maryland state police and former state secretary of public safety and homeland security for Delaware.

“All Americans share a concern about the safety of our public officials,” the panel members said in a joint statement. “We formed this bipartisan group to quickly identify improvements the U.S. Secret Service can implement to enhance their work. We must all work together to ensure events like July 13 do not happen again.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Panel to review Secret Service after Trump assassination attempt: DHS